Six team players were missing for Bnei Sakhnin in their game against Maccabi Haifa, so it is understandable that Kobi Yarofa started in a formation of three brakes with a defensive team organization that was 25-30 meters from their goal. They played between the squads very close and it was very difficult for Maccabi Haifa to crack this defense.
All this until the 34th minute, when in an excellent move Omar Atzili put in a deep ball to Dean David, who passed a great cross to Franzi Pierro, but the ball went past everyone and reached Mohamed Abu Fani who was the outstanding player of the game. The midfielder returned the ball to five, everyone referred to Piero and Dodd rightly hit the net because the greens’ control was absolute.
We should mention Bakr who started in a 4-2-4 system with only two central midfielders, Ali Muhammad as a back midfielder and Abu Fani as a more attacking midfielder who goes where he wants and does what he wants usually with great success. Both of them faced Sakhnin’s players, especially Ali Muhammad who was excellent defensively and eliminated any attempt by Sakhnin to go forward, with endless rescues registered to his name.
Sakhnin did not give up and came forward several times, but without any real risk to Haifa’s goal. The greens rightfully led 0:1, and reached one more situation in the first half when Dean David was egotistical and did not tell Piero who was free on the five line.
At the start of the second half, Maccabi Haifa once again took control of the field in an absolute way, playing from foot to foot and with a lot of patience, with the left defender Curno standing out in a special way when he was also excellent in the first half with many lifts to the area mainly for Piero.
During a one-on-one, Korno was fouled in the box, the referee didn’t see and ignored, Sakhnin went on the attack and the Maccabi Haifa players got angry and the referee issued yellow cards. But how lucky that there is a VAR that called the referee who ended up giving the penalty from which Atzili made 0:2.
The truth must be told, Atzili had a mediocre game and did not show up against the crowd. From the moment Chiron Sherry came in, it was a different Maccabi Haifa, Atzili was much more effective and reached at least two situations, in one of which you can even say he was disrespectful. In the end Atzili did his part when he scored on a penalty and was involved in the first goal, in addition to many good things he did in the last half hour.
The team played without several injured players, this is known. Chibuta got several chances and proved himself, when one on one he tried to pass Sakhnin players, did special things and juggled and it was unnecessary to take him off the field. It was also unnecessary to take out Piero especially in a Maccabi Haifa corner kick when he is known for his head game.
In the foundations, you can’t help but visit Maccabi Haifa. It doesn’t make sense that in three corners of Bnei Sakhnin all the players of Maccabi Haifa come down to defend as if it were PSG, without disrespecting Sakhnin. How come they didn’t leave one player to try to make a passing attack from the other side. It was strange that even in Paul’s situation all the Haifa players entered the square of 16. It doesn’t suit Haifa, in the fundraisers they played like an underground team that is afraid of Maccabi Haifa.
It is impossible not to finish with Nikita Rukavitsa. From the beginning of the season he contributed nothing and nothing to Maccabi Haifa, at every opportunity he got he was like a lesser player on the field. Today Sherry left him one on one in front of a goalkeeper and he kicked Gad Amos’ body, you can see that he lacks confidence in front of the goal.
In the end, a Maccabi Haifa corner, Abu Fani receives on the 16th, he raises it to Rukavica who puts his head and sends a sharp ball into the net. You can congratulate – Rukavica scored his first goal of the season. All is well that ends well.
